A $5,000 scholarship available to dependent children and spouses of active duty and retired Airmen and Guardians who demonstrate outstanding academic potential based on GPA. Students who have already been vetted through the Arnold Education Grant application process will be evaluated based on cumulative GPA, high school transcripts and video essays on a specified topic.

Students chosen to receive a Merit Scholarship are announced in July each year. Funds will be disbursed directly to their college or university in August each year, and are limited to use for tuition, fees, books, and curriculum-required materials.

A minimum of 10 scholarships are awarded annually.

Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) education support and tuition assistance is available to dependent children of active duty service members, spouses of active duty service members, and surviving spouses of Air Force and Space Force members who died while on active duty that  demonstrate outstanding academic potential based on GPA.

Emergency Financial Needs

Standard Assistance is available to Airmen and Guardians along with their eligible Family members to meet immediate needs in an emergency. AFAS provides interest-free loans and grants based on the individual situation for needs such as:

• Basic Living Expenses

• Travel Emergencies

• Vehicle Repairs

• Funeral Expenses

• Medical/Dental Care

• Respite Care

• Pet Transportation Assistance (To/From OCONUS-CONUS)

• Pet Emergency Surgery/Emergency Treatment

• Disasters

• Pay/Allotment Problems

• Assistance to Surviving Dependents

• Special Needs (Exceptional Family Members)

Standard assistance loans for active duty; Guard/Reserve on active initial or continuation tours; and retirees who are receiving retirement pay, repay a loan by allotment. Loans for traditional Guard/Reserve members are repaid by completing an AFAS Paymatic Authorization Form to allow withdrawal of the repayment amount from bank account. Consideration is given to the individual’s financial situation, as well as time remaining on current enlistment. Loans are usually repaid within 12 months and do not exceed 24 months.

Falcon Loans - Created as a compliment to AFAS standard assistance and for Active duty Service members to use in case of emergency. Falcon loans offer a streamlined process for faster access. These interest-free loans are up to $1,000 and loan repayment terms are between 3 to 12 months.

Receiving a Falcon Loan does not make an Airman / Guardian ineligible to receive Standard Assistance if another financial emergency occurs while working to repay a Falcon Loan.

Education Assistance

The General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program - Provides grants ranging from $500 to $2,000, based on need, to full-time college undergraduates who are dependent Children of:

• Active duty

• Title 10 Guard/Reserve members on extended active duty

• Title 32 Guard members performing full-time active duty

• Retired Service members

• Deceased Service members

Spouses of active-duty members, Title 10 Guard/Reserve and Surviving Spouses of deceased personnel are also eligible to compete for these grants.

Air Force Aid Society Merit Scholarship - A $5,000 scholarship, available to dependent Children and Spouses of active duty; Title 10 Guard/Reserve on extended active duty; Title 32 Guard performing full-time active duty; retired; and deceased Air Force members who demonstrate outstanding academic potential based on GPA. Students who have already been vetted through the Arnold Education Grant application process will be evaluated based on cumulative GPA, high school transcripts and an essay written on a specified topic.

Students chosen to receive a Merit Scholarship are announced in June. Funds are disbursed directly to their college or university in August and limited to use for tuition, fees, books and curriculum-required materials.

A minimum of 10 scholarships are awarded annually.

AFAS Supplemental Education Loan - A zero-interest loan to help meet college expenses such as books, fees and supplies. Maximum loan amount for each eligible student is $1,000 distributed from Zelle or direct Bank ACH and repaid by allotment taken over 12 months directly from a member’s military/retired pay or bank account. Supplemental education loans are only available to dependents who have already successfully completed both parts of the Henry “Hap” Arnold Education Grant application.

The same eligibility criteria required for the Arnold Education Grant are required for the supplemental education loan.

Receiving an Arnold Education Grant is not a pre-requisite to receipt of a Supplemental Loan. A student can receive a Supplemental Education Loan without receiving the needs-based Arnold Education Grant.

Community Programs

Community programs offered by AFAS vary between installations. Visit your local Military & Family Readiness Center for a complete list of services available. Services available may include:

• Bundles for Babies

• Child Care Programs

  • Give Parents a Break

  • Child Care for PCS

• Spouse Employment Program

• Heart Link Spouse Orientation Program

NOTE: Traditional Guard/Reserve members performing active duty are eligible to use community programs when offered at the installation.

Applying:

Airmen and Guardians along with eligible Family members who have an emergency need and are at an Air Force base may apply online at https://portal.afas.org/SignIn or in person at the Air Force Aid office in the Military and Family Readiness Center. Airmen and Guardians along with eligible Family members who have an emergency and are not near an Air Force base may apply for Air Force Aid assistance through any of the following agencies:

Army Emergency Relief (located at Army installations, worldwide)

Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (located at Coast Guard installations, worldwide)

Navy - Marine Corps Relief Society (located at Navy installations, worldwide)

If there is no military installation within 50 miles of you, please contact the  American Red Cross at 1-877-272-7337

For more information contact the Air Force Aid Society at 703-972-2650 or visit their website at:
https://afas.org/